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Former Celtic midfielder Jiri Jarosik is hoping that the current side can get revenge the defeat of 2007 in the San Siro tonight, where the Czech midfielder was robbed of a goal by Paulo Maldini’s hand, and cost Celtic a place in the quarter finals. Milan went on to lift their seventh European crown that season.

Jarosik said: “I looked at it on the internet recently and it was 100% a penalty. If we had got it we might have won but it is normal in Europe for the referee to help the biggest clubs.

“I think it is fantastic they got back into the Champions League – everyone knows the money problems Scottish football has just now. All four clubs in Celtic’s group are special and all the games will be exciting.”

Manager Neil Lennon wants this season’s side to prove it is as good as the side that got to the knockout stages last season, who were eventually knocked out by Italian giants Juventus.

He said: “Everything we’ve worked on since being eliminated by Juventus has been geared towards this game."

Forward Georgios Samaras has said this current Celtic team doesn’t fear anyone as they look to start on what some call ‘an impossible job’ by getting out of their Group.

Samaras said: “We’ve not come to Italy to lose. Last year, we didn’t go to Barcelona to lose. We want to go into these games to really enjoy them, express ourselves and try to win.

“If we can’t do that we’ll try not to lose. But we definitely won’t come here with the mentality that we’re playing against a big club we must fear.”

Anthony Stokes has told Celtic View that it is and it isn’t the kind of draw that they wanted, and that the players are going to test themselves against the best in the world.

The striker said: “It will be hard but no matter who we had been drawn with, I would have been standing here saying it was going to be a tough game. We will focus on ourselves and try do as best as we can.”

Ian Bolland

A journalism graduate of Liverpool John Moores University. During his time at university, Ian spent time on work experience at local newspapers in Liverpool, Bolton and Wigan, and prior to that he did work for The Observer's 'fans verdict'. Ian also has interests in news, current affairs and business but mostly sport, including football, rugby league, cricket, golf and Formula 1, amongst others.